Dunbar Reflects on Vikings’ State Tournament Run

Winthrop High School head hockey coach Dale Dunbar led the 2023-24 Vikings to one of the greatest seasons in the program’s history.

The Vikings were hoping to bring the town its first state hockey championship since the famed 1975-76 WHS team won it all. A tough 2-1 loss to Dover-Sherborn in the state semifinals in faraway Bourne denied the Vikings a trip to the Garden.

The NEC champion fueled by the unanimous NEC Player of the Year in senior Petey Silverman, Winthrop had rolled into the Final Four game against Dover-Sherborn, outscoring their three opponents (Tri-County, Hudson, and Ashland) by a 22-3 margin. The line of Petey Silverman, Phil Boncore, and Mike Holgersen carried over its firepower from the regular season. The goaltending and defensemen were superb all season, and the tough schedule of NEC opponents and non-league tests had prepared the No. 1-seeded Vikings well for the post-season.

Silverman scored in the first period against Dover-Sherborn, but D-S goaltender Andrew Goldstein kept Winthrop off the scoreboard the rest of the way. Winthrop’s junior goaltender, Michael Donahue, was equally phenomenal, said Dunbar. Some of Donahue’s saves were extraordinarily clutch with so much on the line.

“We knew it was going to be closely played, one-goal hockey game – look at their goals against, it was just over 1.00” said Dunbar. “Our goaltender was tremendous, too, in the tournament.”

The Shootout Format

Winthrop and Dover Sherborn played two overtime periods before the shootout.

“We had our opportunities in overtime. It just didn’t work out, but the shootout format is wrong,” said Dunbar. “They should let it be decided on the ice, especially with so much at stake – this was the game to get to the Garden. They don’t go to a shootout in the finals. They play the overtimes.”

Interestingly, there was an MIAA state final (St. Mary’s-Notre Dame Academy girls hockey) Sunday at the TD Garden that went to three overtimes, with St. Mary’s scoring in the third overtime to win, 5-4.

As it turned out, Dover-Sherborn went on to defeat Hanover, 5-1, in the state championship game at the Garden. Winthrop had defeated Hanover, 4-2, earlier in the finals of the Michael Giordano Christmas Classic, one day after beating eventual Division 2 state champion Boston Latin, 5-2, in that same South Boston tournament.

“I really believe if we get to the Garden, we win the whole thing,” said Dunbar. “The hockey gods just didn’t have it in the plans for us. I’m devastated for the kids. There aren’t too many more next years for me. This was, I feel, a team that had the qualities necessary to really do it.”

Praise for the WHS Seniors

Dale Dunbar made special mention of the seniors – Petey Silverman, Billy Hayes, Rob Rich, Hunter Fife, Joe Rich, Jackson Andy, Glen Calla, and Teddy Bailey – who will graduate this spring.

“Our seniors were tremendous,” said Dunbar. “What our senior class has done for this program – they’re a group of classy, classy kids. I’ve gotten more compliments from the Norwell coach and other coaches. It speaks to the character of our players. They truly cared about each other. They formed a brotherhood.”

Leaving his Legacy

Petey Silverman’s individual exploits for the Vikings were in Dunbar’s words, “amazing.”

“Petey should be the Division 4 Player of the Year – to score 69 points in 24 games is phenomenal,” said Dunbar. “He’s been a great captain and great ambassador for our program and our town. He’s always doing things for the community and helping young hockey players. But I know one thing – Petey can play, and he has the heart of the lion. He’s left his legacy, that’s for sure.”

The Coach Will Return Next Season

Dale Dunbar said he will be back behind the bench for the 2024-25 season.

“I definitely want to see this junior class through,” said Dunbar. “And then we’ll take it from there, one year at a time.”